Sten (9) is the 20th Brabander of the Year: these heroes preceded him

“Perhaps it is a writer, politician or singer. Or is it your neighbor who has done something very special? Who is your Brabant hero?” With this message, on January 27, 2003, the search for the very first Brabander of the Year began. That year folk singer Frans Bauer won.

A year later, the famous fellow citizens of the province were banned. It became a search for someone who is selflessly committed to his loved ones. Like Piet Spijkers from Tilburg. In 2005 he received the most votes, because he had already done good things for children in Ukraine for fifteen years. He has already been named ‘man of the year’ in that country. But he also considered our provincial title a great honor.

Heroes
The public regularly chose heroes. In 2006, Jan Ruedisueli and René Nering Bogel from Eindhoven saved the life of 19-year-old Lotchino Claasen. He was stabbed after an argument. Jan and René provided first aid and saved his life. For Jan, the title was extra valuable. He had lived as a junkie for 22 and was suddenly a hero.

In 2015 there was a whole group of heroes: five boys who took a 3-year-old girl out of the water in swimming pool De Wedert in Valkenswaard during their summer holiday.

Sadness
Often, besides joy surrounding the election, there is also sadness. When Sten was elected this year, his thoughts were with his brother Wies, who died of brain stem cancer. In 2014, the prize was awarded posthumously to Zoë Swinkels from Prinsenbeek. She had died that year from a brain tumor, aged 5. Her last wish was to raise money so that children’s plasters could be installed in all hospitals. Her parents and sister carried out this wish through the Zoës Wens foundation.

In 2016, many people from Brabant would have liked the title to go to Tijn Kolsteren. He made an impression with the Serious Request nail polish campaign in Breda. But when that action became known, the recordings were already over. Tijn died the following year. It was then decided to posthumously appoint Tijn as honorary Brabander.

An overview of all Brabanders of the Year:

• 2022 – Sten Janssen (9) from Eindhoven

He sharpens knives to raise money for research into the treatment of brain stem cancer. Sten has already raised 45,000 euros.

• 2021 – Charles Engelen and Ans van den Broek from Deurne They run Pompidom SpeelGOED, a shop where families with little to spend can pick out free toys.
• 2020 – Petra de Jager from Zevenbergen Petra makes her deceased daughter Prisca’s wish come true by handing out grocery packages every year at Christmas to people who hardly have anything to spend.
• 2019 – Teun Toebes from Best Teun gives people with dementia moments of happiness.
• 2018 – Peggy van de Vijfeijken and Vivienne van Leuken from Helmond They give free wigs and hairpieces to people who lose their hair due to illness.
• 2017 – Patrick and Miranda Verkoelen from Helmond They run their own food bank without subsidy: Stichting Hart voor Minima. Six days a week, they ensure that about 220 families in Helmond and the surrounding area have a well-stocked refrigerator.
• 2016 – Ruud van der Meijden from Boxtel He cycled a thousand kilometers and raised a lot of money for the foundation Gijsje Eigenwijsje.
• 2015 – Danny Slegers, Luuk Verberne, Igor Smit and Kevin Ras from Dommelen and Ralph Maas from Leende They rescued a girl (3) from the water in De Wedert swimming pool in Valkenswaard during the summer holidays.
• 2014 – Zoë Swinkels from Prinsenbeek (posthumous) Zoë died, aged 5, of a brain tumour. Her last wish was to raise money to ensure that children’s plasters are installed in all hospitals.
• 2013 – Fien Kerkers from Asten At the age of 80, she still gives Dutch lessons every day at the Varendonck College in Someren to children who have Dutch as a second language.
• 2012 – Giel van Genugten from Waalre and Frans van Gerven from Valkenswaard They are the founders of WensAmbulance Brabant.
• 2011 – Bente van Bergen from Schijndel She swam 60 kilometers in four days to raise money for her sick brother Roan, who suffers from cancer, and for the Make a Wish foundation.
• 2010 – Chrisje and Henrie van Uden from Geldrop They have been foster parents for thirty years. In all those years they have taken care of about forty children.
• 2009 – Patrick van den Berg from Breda He stopped his studies and went to work to care for his mother, who is partially paralyzed.
• 2008 – Anique Koole from Breda She started a button campaign to raise money for her sick friend Anne, who had leukaemia.
• 2007 – Els Adams from Bergen op Zoom She is committed to animals in need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• 2006 – Jan Ruedisueli and Renee Nering Bogel from Eindhoven They save the life of 19-year-old Lotchino Claasen from Geldrop.
• 2005 – Piet Spijkers from Tilburg For his work for children in Ukraine.
• 2004 – Toon and Eliane van Bakel from Aarle-Rixtel Founded the food bank in Helmond. The couple fell into disrepute when it turned out that they had been guilty of embezzlement. They were sentenced to 15 days in prison in 2010.
• 2003 – Frans Bauer from Fijnaart

View some fragments from the past of the announcement of the Brabander of the Year below: